Monday, January 14, 2013

It has been
another fun week here in SoCal, where it’s been a little chilly but it’s always
sunny and breezy. It’s weird living by the beach again. After we emailed last
week, Elder Low and I went to see the Redondo Beach in our area. Oh man it was
amazing. After living in the inner most part of the city of Los Angeles with of
the hustle and bustle and crazy people and drivers, it felt super relaxing to
sit by the beach. It is quite therapeutic and it's helped take off the stress
of the work. But right now it couldn't be better. Elder Low and I had a very
successful week with most of our investigators. After a long time Cynthia and
her 5 daughters plus her sister Nicole came to church. They all have missing
coming to church and especially with Cynthia and the stress she goes through
raising her daughters. She seemed very at peace and uplifted after all the
classes. She's been committed to be baptized for a while and her sister too but
they both aren't married to their boyfriends, but it seems like they are making
progress to getting it done soon hopefully both my next month. I'm super
excited for them. One of the funniest parts about serving in this area is
working with our ward mission leader Bishop Carlos Madrid! I would have to say
he's the richest and most spiritual person I've ever met! I met him before in
my first area because he gave us the referrals of Freddy and Martiza who live
in one of hundreds of buildings he owns in Los Angeles. He and I have clicked
really well because we both understand how insane the people are that live in
that apartment and they have given us both grief spiritually and with him
financially by not paying their rent. Anyway he's got quite the life story. He
started out dirt poor as a kid living in Redondo Beach area, but grew up all
his life faithful in the church. He served his mission in Mexico came back to
go to college and now he owns several properties in LA. His house is quite the
mansion. We go over to his house for coordination and he had painted in the
entrance of his door inside, a mural of the waters of Mormon. Also in his dining
room, he has a on the top of the wall a painting of the last supper personally
and professionally painted just for him. I will have to send photos. Anyway,
he's served as a branch president, 3x as bishop, and was a mission president in
the Dominican Republic. A couple years ago as well, he survived a major stoke,
so now he walks around with a really cool cane everywhere. He's bald as well
and he makes jokes about it all the time. He has quite a strong testimony of
the gospel and is quite the missionary. On Tuesday we brought him over to a
lesson with us with a referral we received from Mormon.org. Her name is Maria
Garcia and she referred herself to the missionaries after one of her friends
told her about the church. She mentioned to us that she always felt good
driving past the church building. Anyway, we had a lesson with her and her
sister, even before we started the lesson, Bishop Madrid already committed both
of them to baptism! Super strong testimony! We are looking forward to working
with them more. Well, have a good week and I talk to you next Monday!

This
week........Wow! Let's just say its been an answer to my prayers. Last Monday I
was emergency transferred from Crenshaw to North Lomita in Peninsula Zone
serving in the Habor 3rd Ward, the only Spanish ward in the California Torrance
Stake. My area is one the biggest Spanish proselyting areas in the mission as
it covers parts of counties Torrance, Carson, Lomita, Willmington, Redondo
Beach, and Harbor City! It's huge and super beautiful. All the houses and
streets are insanely nice especially compared to my last area in Crenshaw. The
reason I was transferred was an elder serving here, Elder Harper was sent home
because of his health. Elder Harper has served before in most of my past areas
and he's very well known and loved. Unfortunately he's had a condition that
prevents him from sleeping, so he went back home. He basically finished his
mission as he had only 2 months more. Our prayers go out to him. My new
companion is Elder Low and he's super cool He's from Tennessee. Funny story, on
our night drive home from switching companions at the mission home, we were
talking and we found out that we lived in the same apartment building out at
BYU. He lived on the bottom floor to the left and I was in the 2nd floor on the
right. We attend the same ward and we know the same people! SUPER WEIRD!! Our
first night was just talking about memories from school, so we are getting along
really well. He also ran XC in high school as well. I actually when I was on
the XC squad, my team traveled to a meet in Tennessee in the same place where
the XC state meet takes place. Super cool connections! The first morning
together was the New Year and the mission held a mission conference to present
the mission goals for the year of 2013. Apparently there will be a lot of
changes in the mission to accommodate the influx of 18 year old missionaries
that will be coming in. The next transfer will be different as it will be
reduce to a 5 week transfer, so this means all the missionaries and me in the
field now will be leaving a week earlier. (Instead of Feb 12 2014, I will come
home Feb 5 2014....oh well) Also in March there will be 35 new missionaries coming
in March. That’s 3x the average that usually comes in. and there will be more
coming in after that. Craziness! There's a lot to look forward to this coming
year. After President announced all the changes, we held a testimony meeting. I
bore my testimony about how President was inspired to make the change I was
involved in and how the Book of Mormon truly is a source of comfort to those in
need of consolation. After that Elder Low and I went off to work our area. Man,
the people here in this area are insanely awesome and all of the investigators
and member here super cool. It's also been so special this week because the
first member family that I first met in the field now live my area, the familia
sanchez! I spent many nights over at their house, I celebrated my birthday with
them, and my first Saturday in the mission was one of their little daughter’s
baptisms. They were a less active family before I came but they became super
active when i came in. Now the daughters and Hermana Sanchez are active but
Hermano is working Sundays and is apparently drinking again. There's a reason
I'm here! Anyway here's a quick summary of my investigators.

Alicia: has a testimony and knows the church is true but
won't commit to a date. Will be baptized soon.

Cynthia: has 5 little girls all under the age of 12 and a
little boy on the way. Super busy but loves the missionaries. Isn't married but
has the marriage license for this month

Nicole: Cynthia’s sister, isn't married either but doesn't
want to get the marriage license because she lost her ID and is afraid to go to
the DMV to get a new one because she has a warrant

Jose Morales: referral from English missionaries, 73 years
old, has traveled the world, has been married 4 times and is now married to a
30 year old lady from the Philippines. Has a 12 year old son, who was just
baptized. Before his son was born doctors thought that he wasn't going to live,
but Jose prayed to God that if he would save his son he would give up his son
to live dedicated to serve God like the stories in the bible. They found the
church and the son attends the Samoan ward and is a deacon, and Jose plans for
him to serve a mission like us. He's super excited to learn from the book of Mormon
and support his son. Also, he has one leg. I have to say he's the most
interesting man I've ever ever ever met!

So much more to say but so little time. I'll let you all
more next time. This week has been a testimony to me that God answers prayers
and he loves me. Take Care!

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

Today's been
a great week with Christmas and Teaching and Church and everything. I spent
Christmas visiting members, calling home and a big group of us missionaries
went to a Nursing Home and went caroling. There was one feisty lady who offered
all the elders if they would like to "make some [interestingly inappropriate term omitted]" with her
(whatever that means :) ) It's been super fun, the best time in my life. But
you know the phrase "It’s all fun and games until you get sick ( I started
to get the flu and lost my voice the day after Christmas, but I'm fine
now).......AND ........transfers...... My whole world has been turned upside
down this morning. President Baker called me this morning and told me that I
was being emergency
transferred........................tonight.................I've never felt so
disappointed..........What's happening is I'm being moved to an Area called
North Lomita near the city of Torrance (close to the area where I started my
mission) serving in a small Spanish branch. I will be made senior companion
over Elder Low who has about 3 or 4 transfers in the mission. My companion is
combining into a trio with other elders in our district so they will be working
two areas. It's put such a big damper on my life. Everything was going well. We
were teaching well, finding a lot more people to teach and now it feels like it’s
all gone (at least to me).........I'm sorry that I sound sad, but I would be
lying if I didn't say so. It's hard to write about all the things that happened
this week because I know I probably won't see those people again. This Sunday I
got to confirm Federico a member of the church and he also gave a talk at
church. I've never seen a more spiritual man than him. I felt so strange
leaving all the people I've met....But I trust that it’s where the Lord needs
me now. I have no clue why it’s all going down, but I find out soon enough. I'm
starting the New Year out with a bang!
The only thing that's keeping me going is Proverbs...Trust in the Lord
with all thy heart.....and Lean not to thy own understanding. It wouldn't be
right to blame anyone for what's happening but I really am hoping for the best.
I usually don't ask this but keep me and the mission in your prayers. We all
need to stay strong. Don't worry, I'll be happy because I know I'm serving the
Lord. Good Bye Jungle I will miss you!